Box strapping machine



v H. E. TWOMLEY BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed F 19 2, 1932 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 5, 1933. H. E. TWOMLEY BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1932 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l l l l l l l l1 CLIIIIII l [I P .L.

P l l l I l l I l l I l l l l l l l I l l l l l l l l l I i r I l l I l I I l l I I IF Dec. 5, 1933, H. E. T OMLEY 1,937,675

BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, i932 14 Sheets-Sheet-Ifi A TTORNEYS.

D H. E. TWOIIVILEY 1,937,675

BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1932 v 14 Sheets-Sheetfl 5, 1933. H. E. TWOMLEY BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1932 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 5,1933. H. E. TWOMLEY 1,937,675

BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb'.. 2, 1932 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 5, 1933. H wo L 1,937,675

BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1932 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 5, 1933. H. E. TWOMLEY 1,937,675

BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1 932 14 Sheets-Sheetf8 Dec. 5,

1933. H. E. TWOMLEY 1,937,575 I BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Fild Feb. 2, 1932 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 j fi v H l ll$ Dec. 5, 1933.

H. E. "I'WOMLEY BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb; 2, 1932 I 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 5, 1933, H. E. TWOMLEY 50X STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1 832 l4 Shegts-Sheet ll H. E. TWOMLEY BQX STRAPPING MACHINE" Dec. 5, 1933.,

Filed Feb. 2, 1932 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 JVM A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 5, 1933. H. E. TWOMLEY BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1932 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Inventor J EZM (9, W

A ttorneysi Patented Dec. 5, 1933 BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Herbert E. Twomley, Riverside, Calif., assignor to Clara B. Parker, Riverside, Calif., executrix of the estate of George D. Parker Application February 2, 1932. Serial No. 590,455

27 Claims.

My invention relates to box strapping machines, and has particular reference to a machine for applying a flat band strap to a box after a lid has been placed upon the box.

In the art of packing articles in boxes or similar containers, it has been the practice to form the box, then fill the box with the desired material, then apply a lid to the box which is secured at each end, and thereafter to apply a metallic strap which extends over the lid of the box and downwardly along the sides thereof to hold the central portions of the lid in close engagement with the box.

Various devices have been suggested for applying a strap to'a box, some of these employing a round wire strap which is applied to the box in definite lengths, pressed over the side edges of the box and the points of the wire strap pressed into the material of the box.

It is an object of the invention to provide a. box strapping device, as set forth in the preceding paragraph, in which the operation of placing the band across the top of the box, nailing,

drawing the band tight, and fastening the same, is performed automatically as distinguished from the manual operations heretofore employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box strapping device in which a continuous length of band is fed from a reel or other source of supply, and in which the band is formed around the box and secured thereto, the band heing cut to length during the forming and attaching operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which automatically feeds a continuous strip of handing material into position upon a box and thereafter secures the free end of the band to the box and then draws the band tight upon the box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device, asset forth in the preceding two paragraphs in which after the band has been drawn tight the band is nailed to the opposite side of the box while held taut.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as set forth in the preceding two paragraphs, in which the nailing mechanism employed to nail the strap operates to cut the strap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guiding device for a continuous length of strap banding in which the mechanism which nails the band to the box cuts the hand during the nailing operation.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from a study of the following specifications, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein' Figure 1 is an elevational view of a box strapping machine constructed in accordance with my invention.-

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the box strapping machine illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line lII-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view of a portion of the machine illustrated in Figure 1, illustrating the driving mechanism for the pressing device and the band forming mechanism.

Figure 5 is a detaiPtop plan view of the bandforming and lid-pressing device shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail view, similar to Figure 4, illustrating the band in the position which it occupies during the first step of the strapping operation, the driving cams being ofi-set to illustrate the comparative positions of these cams.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view, similar to Figure 4, illustrating the position of the parts of the machine in a second step in the operation of my machine.

Figure 8 is a view siin'lar to Figure 6, showing a further step in the operation of the machine, the driving cams again being displayed as offset relative to each other to show the interrelation of the same.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figures 6 and 8, showing a still further step in the operation of my machine.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view of the band forming device illustrating the guiding of the band.

Figure 11 is a detail line XI-XI of Figure 10, band guiding devices.

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view, taken along line XII-XII of Figure 10, illustrating another of the band guiding devices.

Figure 13 is a detail view, similar to Figure 12, illustrating the operation of the band guidmo ing devices when the band is drawn taut.

Figure 14 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 10, illustrating the band and the band-forming device when the band is fed into position on the box.

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along line XVXV of Figure 3, illustrating the band feeding mechanism.

Figure 16 is a. view similar to Figure 15 showing the band feeding mechanism in-the position 110 sectional view. taken along illustrating one of the constituting the first step in the operation thereof.

Figure 17 is a sectional view, taken along line XVH-XVII of Figure 1, illustrating the box guiding apparatus.

Figure 18 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the nailing devices employed with my invention.

Figure 19 is a vertical sectional view taken through the nail driving device shown in Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a detail sectional view, similar to Figure 18, showing the driving device in nail driving position.

Figure 21 is a detail sectional view, similar to Figure 19, illustrating the nail driving device in driving position.

Figure 22 is a detail sectional View taken along line XX[I-XXII of Figure 20.

Figure 23 is a detail sectional view taken along line IQCHI-Xiflll of Figure 21.

Figure 24 is a. detail sectional view through one portion of the nail chucks employed in the nail driving device.

Figure 25 is a detail sectional view taken along line XXV-XXV of Figure 1, illustrating a portion of the band feeding device.

Figure 26 is a detail elevational view of the band feeding device shown in Figure 25.

Referring to Figure 1, I have illustrated a box strapping machine as comprising a base l from which rise side frames 2 and 3, connected together at their tops by means of a cross-tie 4. Intermediate the base and the cross-tie, I have illustrated a box supporting table as comprising a plurality of rollers 5 mounted upon suitable rails 5a which are inturn supported upon table cross-ties 6 to constitute a roller conveyor table upon which a box 7 may rest during the strapping operation.

The vertical side frames 2 and 3 constitute guides in which slides a press-frame 8 which presses the box cover 9. downwardly upon the box during the strapping operation. The pressframe or clamp 8 is illustrated as having an elongated vertical boss extending upwardly from either of its ends, that on theright-hand side of Figure 1 being designated by the reference character 10, while the reference character 11 designates the boss for the left-hand end of the clamp 8.

The bosses 10 and 11 constitute attachment guides through which extend, respectively, a pair of reciprocating connecting rods 12 and 13 by which the press-frame or clamp 8 may be drawn downwardly immediately prior to the application of the band to the box.

By referring particularly to Figure 3, it will be observed that the lower ends of the connecting rods 12 and 13 are interconnected by means of a cross-arm 14 (Figures 4 and 7) to the center of which is secured a laterally extending pin 15 to which a roller 16 is rotatably'mounted for engagement with and operation by a cam 17 which is in turn fixed upon a main shaft 18 rotated as hereinafter described.

Power for driving the shaft 18 is illustrated as being derived from an electric motor 19 mounted upon the base 1 (Figures 1 and-3), the shaft 20 of which is connected by means of a sprocket 21 and a chain belt 22 to continuously drive a main sprocket 23 which is secured to a clutch 24, the driven member of which is connected to a jack shaft 25 mounted upon suitable bearings 26 and 2'? upon the base 1. The

jack shaft 25 is illustrated as having a pinion 28 fixed thereon to mesh with and drive a. main gear 29 which is in turn fixed to the shaft 18 so that when the clutch 24 is engaged the driving power from the motor 19 is transmitted to the shaft 18 to cause the same to be rotated.

Thejack shaft 25 (Figure 3) is illustrated as having thereon a brake drum 30 upon which operates a hand brake 31, similar to that described in my copending application, Serial No. 514,520, filed February 9, 1931, which is arranged in such manner that when the clutch 24 is engaged, the brake 31 is released, but when the clutch is disengaged, the brake 31 is applied to stop the motion of the jack shaft 25.

The operation of the clutch 24 may be controlled in any suitable manner to permit an operator of the machine, to start the same into operation whenever desired. For this purpose, I have illustrated a foot pedal 32 secured to a clutch lever 33 which is mounted upon a shaft 34 so that operation of the lever 33 will draw a yoke 35 toward the driving member of the clutch to thereby engage the driven member of the clutch with the driving member. The yoke 35 is illustrated as being provided with an extending arm 36 positioned to be engaged by a lever 37 fixed upon the shaft 18 and rotatable therewith and having its outer end 38 engageable with the extension 36 of the clutch yoke so that after one complete revolution of the shaft 18 the-lever 37 will engage the yoke and throw the clutch out of operation.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, it will be observed that a reel of handing material 39 is rotatably secured upon a shaft 40 journaled in suitable bearings 41 which may constitute a stand separate from the base 1 or may be formed integrally with the base 1. The reel of banding material is illustrated as having thereon a continuous length of metallic strap or tape 42 which may be fed from the reel 39 over a guide roller 43 journaled upon an outwardly extending arm 44 pivotally mounted upon the side frame 3 as hereinafter described. A second guide roller 45 is also illustrated as being journaled upon a shaft 49, and the banding material 42 is illus-- trated as extending over the lower surface of this roller and thence between the surface of this roller andia friction roller 46, whence the band extends upwardly through a slot- 47 in a guide 48 rigidly attached to the side frame 3.

By referring particularly to Figure 25, it will be observed that the roller 45 is illustrated as being rotatably mounted upon its shaft 49 which in turn operates in bearings 49a and 49b formed in the side frame 3. A relatively large side surface 50 of the roller engaging a similar surface 51 of a gear 52, is in turn keyed to the shaft 49 as by means of a key 53.

The shaft 49 is further illustrated as being provided with a small pinion 54 also rigidly connected to the shaft 49 so that rotation of the pinion 54 rotates the gear 52 and by reason of the frictional contact between the surfaces 51 and 50 a rotary motion is imparted to the roller 45.

It will also be observed from an inspection of Figure 25, that the friction roller 46 is also mounted rotatably upon its shaft 55 with a large area 56 engaging a similar friction surface 57 upon a gear 58 fixedly secured to the shaft 55. The gear 58 is illustrated as meshing with the gear 52 so that rotary motion is transmitted from the gear 52 to the gear 58. Thus the rollers 45 and 46 arefrictionally driven. To insure the frictional engagement of the rollers and their associated gears, springs 59 and 60 may be employed to normally press the gears against the rollers.

By referring particularly to Figures 25 and 26, it will be observed that an inwardly extending arm 61 is formed upon the side frame 3, the outer end 62 being connected by meansv of a pivot pin 63 to an upstanding bracket 64 in which the shaft 55- is journaled. The extreme upper end 65 of .the bracket 64 is illustrated as surrounding a guide rod 66 to which is secured a spring 67 normally acting to bias the roller 46 toward the roller 45 so as to create a pressure between these two rollers frictionally'engaging the strap 42 of banding material therebetween. Thus as the gear 52 is rotated to rotate rollers 45 and 46 their frictional engagement with the banding material will cause the material to be fed upwardly through the guide slot 47 by an amount substantially equal to the distance through which any given point on the periphery of the wheel 45 is moved.

By referring again to Figure 1, it will be observed that immediately above the upper end of the guide slot 4'7 a band form 68 is secured. This band form 68 is illustrated as extending in a substantially semi-circular formation across the space between the side frames 2 and 3 and across the box 7 which is in position upon the conveyor table rollers 5. The band form is illustrated as being supported upon a pair of brackets 69 and '70, respectively secured to the side frames 3 and 2.

By referring particularly to Figures 10 to 14, it will be observed that the band form 68 is con,- structed of a channel formation with the open side of the channel directed inwardly and downwardly toward the box supporting table so that as the band 42 is fed upwardly through the guide slot 47 it will engage the inner periphery of the form 68 and be bent or guided into position across the box '7 which may be in position. At a multiplicity of points along the length of the band form 68 I have provided spring guides designated by the reference characters '71, '72 and 73. Each of these guides is illustrated as being constructed of a pair of springs 74, each of the springs being secured at one of its ends '75 to the outer side flange of the form 68 with its extreme inner end 76 extending substantially half-way across the channel opening '77 in the form so that the pair of springs constituting the guide extends substantially across the opening in the channel. Thus as the strip 42 of handing material is fed up into the inner periphery of the form 68, the guides will insure that the band will take the configuration of the inner periphery of the form and will prevent any possibility of the band material slipping out of the form during the feeding process. Thus the band material 42 will be fed through the complete distance defined by the form so that upon the termination of the upward feed the band is in the position illustrated in Figure 14.

However, it will be noted from an inspection of Figure 13 that the band 42 may be forcibly withdrawn from the form 68 by forcing the same outwardly against the tension of the springs '74, the springs being deflected a sufficient distance to permit the passage of the band 42 therebetween.

By referring again to Figures 1, 15 and 16, it will be observedthat an upstanding bracket '79 is mounted upon the base 1 between the side frames 2 and 3. The bearing member 79 is provided with a boss 80 through which extends a pin 81 to constitute a bearing or pivot'pin for a lever 82.

One end of the lever 82 is illustrated as forming a sector gear 83 which meshes with the pinion 54 to rotate the same whenever the sector gear is moved. The opposite end 84 of the lever 82 is illustrated as extending inwardly of the machine and has secured thereto a roller 85 which engages the interior of a driving cam 86 which is preferably formed upon and integrally with the cam 17 which operates the press-frame 8. Thus whenever the shaft 18 is rotated to start the cycle of operations of the machine, the cam 86 will be rotated so as to movethe lever 82 and thus swing the sector gear from the normal position illustrated in Figures 1 and 15 to a position in which the sector gear is substantially vertical as is indicated in Figure 16.

By referring particularly to Figure 15, it will be observed that the cam 86 is provided with a track 8'7 in which the roller 85 operates of such configuration that the initial movement of the shaft 18 in the direction of the arrow appearing upon this figure, the lever arm 84 will be given a considerable downward motion, thus causing the sector gear 83 to operate rapidly through substantially a quarter turn to the position indicated in Figure 16. Thus the initial movement of the shaft 18 will cause rotation of the feed rollers 45 and 46 to'feed a length of banding material 42 upwardly through its guide 47 and through the form 68 to surround the box. The length of material which is fed is preferably sufiicient to completely fill the form 68 to press the extreme free end 88 of the band 42 against the side of the box '7.

By referring particularly to Figure 16, it will be observed that as the shaft 18 continues to rotate, the configuration of the track 87 of the cam 86 is such that the lever 82 and sector gear 83 will be maintained in the position shown therein through a substantial period of the complete rotation of the shaft 18 so that the band is held in the position illustrated in Figure 16 during a predetermined portion of the cycle of operations.

Still referring to Figures 15 and 16, it will be observed that further rotation of the shaft 18 and the cam 86 will present to the roller 85 a section of the track 87 which will cause the lever 82 to be moved in the opposite direction to thereby reverse rotation of the rollers 45 and 46 to draw the band downwardly through its guide slot 47. It will also be observed that the movement of the sector gear in the downward direction is precisely the same as its extent of movement in the up direction but, as will be hereinafter described, a portion of the band 42 will be secured to the box so that it is impossible to retract the entire length of band which had been fed upwardly. For this reason the frictional engagement is provided between the band 42 and its rollers 45 and 46 and also the frictional connection between the driving gears 52 and 58 is provided to permit the sector gear to move through a greater are thanis necessary to withdraw the amount of band permitted, thus insuring that the sector gear and its associated devices may move back to their original position without placing too great a strain to cause its breakage, and also there will be exerted a predetermined strain determined by the friction engagement so that, as will be hereinafter described, the reverse movement of the band feeding mechanism may be employed to draw the band into tight or taut relation around the box 7, while it is being secured in place thereon.

When the shaft 18 has substantially completed its revolution, a section of the track 87 will be presented to the roller 85 which will substantially hold the sector gear 83 stationary in its normal position during the lattermost portion of the complete revolution.

By referring particularly to Figures 3, 4 and 7, it will be observed that the cam 17, which operates to draw the press frame 8 downwardly, is fixed to the shaft 18 in such manner that its track 89 will cause the roller 16 to move downwardly slowly during the first quarter of arevolution of the shaft. It will be observed that it is during this period that the greatest motion is given to the sector gear 83 so that while the press-frame is moving downwardly slowly the band 42 is being fed rapidly around its form 68. As the, shaft 18 moves through the next quarter of a revolution, the roller 16 is drawn downwardly rapidly to press the frame 8 into tight engage ment upon the box 7 which is being strapped.

It will be observed that during this portion of -the revolution of shaft l8, there is substantially no motion of the sector gear 83 so that the pressing occurs during a time when the band of material remains stationary. Again, during the next quarter of a revolution, the roller 16 is maintained substantially at its lowermost level so that the press-frame 8 is held in the lower position during the retracting of the band feeding device so that the press-frame holds the top of the box in close relation to the box while the band is being drawn taut thereon. Further, during the last quarter of the revolution of the shaft 18, the roller 16 is elevated to its normal position shown in Figure 4.

By referring particularly to Figure 1, it will be observed that the left-hand side of the machine is provided with a nail driving device 90 21, 22, and 23, it will be observed that the nail driving device 91 comprises a channel-shaped base 92, the inner surfaces of which form ways in which a slide 95 is reciprocably mounted. The slide 95 has rigidly secured thereto guide rails 93 and 94 upon which a cross head 109 is free to slide. The outer ends of the guide rails 93 and 94 are enlarged, as is indicated at 143, thus forming shoulders against which the cross head 109 may strike to move the slide 95 with it as it moves from the position shown in Figure 21, to that shown in Figure 19. The slide 95 is illustrated as constituting housing for a nail chuck structure 96 which comprises a pair of nail holding jaws 97 and 98 pivoted to the slide at 99 and 100, respectively, to be normally pressed toward each other by means of a pair of springs 101 and 102 so that the two chuck members constitute a guide through which a nail driving rod 103 re ciprocates. Formed integrally with the slide 95 is a nail entrance 104 connected in any suitable manner, as by means of a tube 105 to a nail feeding device 106, more specifically described hereinafter. The nail entrance 104 communicates with an opening 107 formed in the upper surface of the nail chuck members 97. and 98 so that nails may be fed through the tube 105 into the position illustrated at 108 in Figure 19.

The nail driving rod 103 is illustrated as being secured to a reciprocable cross head 109, also slidably guided upon the rails 93 and 94 and having a vertically extending opening therethrough to receive the upper ball end 110 of a crank arm 111 which crank arm extends below the base 92 through a slot 112 formed in the lower surface thereof.

The crankarm 111 is illustrated as being pivoted at 113 to a suitable lug 114, while the opposite end 115 of the crank arm is secured at 116 to the upper end of a connecting rod 117. The

lower end of the connecting rod 117 is connected to one end of a rocker arm 118 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 119 journaled in the bearing 79 and in an exterior bearing 120. A crankarm 121 is also rigidly secured to the shaft 119 and bears upon its outer end a roller 122 which fits within a track 123 of a cam 124. The cam 124 is rigidly secured to the shaft 18 and is rotatable therewith so that rotation of the cam 124 causes an upward and downward movement of the rocker arm 121 in accordance with the configuration of the track 123 of the cam and thereby causes an up and down movement to be imparted to the connecting rod 117 and thus drive the nail driving rod 103 inwardly and outwardly of the machine, toward and away from the box 7.

By referring particularly to Figures 1, 6, 8 and 9, it will be observed that the nail driving device 90 is similarly connected by means of a crankarm 125 pivoted at 126 to the side frame 2, the crank 125 being connected to a connecting rod 127 which is in turn connected to a rocker arm 128 rigidly secured to a shaft 129 similar in all respects to the shaft 119. The rocker arm 128 has an extension 130 extending upon the opposite side of the shaft 129 and bears upon its outer end a roller 131 which engages in a track 132 in a cam 133 preferably formed integrally with the cam 124 and rotatable therewith. Hence rotation of the shaft 18 will cause the rotation of the cams 124 and 133 to operate the nail driving device in accordance with the configuration of the tracks on these cams.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1, 6, 8 and 9, it will be observed that the normal position of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, the cams 133 and 124 is such that the nail driving devices are retracted or in spaced relation relative to the box 7. In the position illustrated in Figure 6, the shaft 18 has been rotated through a little less than 90 which, as hereinbefore described, will be suificient to feed the band 42 of strapping material upwardly and over the form 68 into the position illustrated in Figure 6. During this initial movement, the roller 131 will be following a portion of its cam so that there will be no vertical movement imparted to the rocker arm 130 and hence there will be no motion of the nail driving device 90.

For a more ready understanding of the coordination of the cams 133 and 124, the cam 124 is illustrated being moved slightly to the right in Figures 6, 8 and 9, the cams having their fixed relative positions so that by considering the connecting rod 11? associated with the cam 124 as outlined with and constituting a continuation of the connecting rod 117 shown in the upper part of the figure, a complete coordination of the movements of the cams and the driving devices may be readily understood. The 124 will have moved during the previously described operation through a portion of said cycle, such as to also hold this roller 122 against vertical movement and hence there will be at this time no movement of the nail driving device 91 from its normal position.

However, during the next portion of the rotation of shaft 18, the nail driving device 90 will be operated to the position shown in Figure 8, operating its nail driving rod 103a (corresponding to previously described rod 103), inwardly toward its nail chuck and driving the nail 10811 through the free end 88 of the band 42. It will be observed that this driving of the free end 88 of the band 42 occurs prior to any retraction of the band '42 and by referring to the position of the cams in Figures 6, 8 and 16, it will be ob- J served that the amount of rotation on shaft 18 necessary to drive the nail 108a is just sufficient to havemoved the band 42 into position upon its guide 68 and to hold the same in this position.

By referring particularly to Figures 1, 6, and 8, it will be observed that the nail driving device 90 is provided with a pair of upstanding ears 135 which engage a lug 136 formed upon a pivoted end piece 137 constituting a part of the band.

form 68 and pivoted thereto at 138. Hence the inward movement of the nail driving device 90 causes the pivoted end piece 137 to be pressed inwardly toward the box '7, such motion tending to straighten the end 88 of the band 42 flat against the side of the box immediately prior to and during the operation of driving the nail 108a. Thus the initial angular position of the end 88 of the band 42 is not permitted to deflect the nail 108a as it is being-driven home.

By referring particularly to Figure 8, it will be observed that further rotation of the shaft 18 will not cause retraction of the nail driving device 90, since the portion of the cam 133 now operating upon the'roller 131 is such as to hold the roller in its uppermost position; thus the nail driving device 90 is held inwardly to press the box '7 toward the right-hand side of the machine, as viewed in this figure.

By referring particularly to Figures 6 and '7,

' it will be observed that during the time the band 42 is fed through the form 68, the cam '17 will have operated to draw the press-frame 8 downwardly to press the lid 9 of the box '7 downwardly toward the box. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that after the box lid 9 has been placed upon the box '7, in a previous box-lidding operation, the central portion of the box lid will be bowed upwardly to a considerable extent so that it, is desirable to press this lid closer to the box, and it is for this purpose that the pressframe 8 is employed to exert a pressure upon the inner portion of the lid of the box.

Thus when the nail driving device 90 is in the position shown in Figure 7, driving the nail 108a into the box, the press-frame 8 will be holding the box lid. tight upon the box. .Now after the nailing operation which attaches the free end 88 of the band 42 to the box is complete, further rotation of the shaft 18 will cause'the band opat the time the band 42 is drawn tight, the cam 124 for the nail driver 91 is holding the nail driver out of nailing position so that the nailing operation does not occur until after the band has been drawn tight.

By referring to Figures 1, and 18 to 21 particularly, it will be observed that the base 92 of the right-hand nail driving device 91 has its lower section flush with the upper end 140 of the band guide 48 and in fact the band guide 48 may be formed integrally with the casting which constitutes the base 92.

Thus the slide 95 passes directly over the upper end of the slot 4'? through which the band 42 is fed. It will be observed from an inspection of Figures 18, 19 and 21 that the slot 4'7 is fixed inwardly from the left-hand edge of the guide 48 so that the fiat upper surface of the base 92 and the slide 95 constitute a shear which as the slide passes over the upper end 140 of the slot 47 cuts 95 the band at this point.

By referring particularly to Figure 19, it will be observed that the nail chuck operates to include the slide 95 and is normally spring pressed toward the box by means of a spring 141 which bears against an upstanding lug 142 on the outer end of the base 92 and also upon the right-hand side of the slide 95.

By referring particularly to Figures 19, 20 and 21, it will be observed that the nail driver guides 93 and 94 are formed with enlarged heads 143 upon their rear ends and further that the guides. or rails 93--94 are slidable to a limited extent within the base 92. Thus when the nail driving crankarm-lll is in its rearward position, as shown in Figures 18 and 19, the cross head 109 will engage the enlargement 143 and hold the slides and the nail chuck as it operates in its retracted or rearward position, as shown in Figure 19. Thus the slide 95 is. maintained in spaced relation to the slot 4'7 except when the nail driving apparatus 91 is operated to drive the nail 108.

By referring particularly to Figures 9 and 21, it will be observed that after the band 42 has been drawn tight, as hereinbefore described, further rotation of the shaft 18 causes the nail driver cam 124 to be rotated to such position that the roller 122 will be lifted drawing down the connecting rod 117 and moving the crank 111 to drive the nail 108.

As hereinafter described, the initial movement of the crankarm 111 will move the cross head 109 to the left, as viewed in Figure 19, thus permitting the spring 141 to move the nail chuck toward the box until the left-hand end of the nail chuck 13 operates and its slide 95 rests against the upstanding portion of the band 42 which projects above the upper end of the slot 4'7. Further movement of the crank arm 111 then causes the nail driving rod 103 to press the nail 108 outwardly 5 of the chuck which. by reason of the configuration of the nail chuck, sections 97 and 98 will center the nail in the nail opening 144 of the nail chuck with the point of the nail pressing against the upstanding end of the band 42. Further 140 movement of the crank arm 111 will cause the nail driving rod to press the nail through the band 42 and to start the nail into the material of the box.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that 145 when the box 7 is in the machine ready for nailing, the central partition of the box is aligned with the band feeding apparatus and the nail driving apparatus by an automatic box stopping mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2 and described in the George D. Parker Patent No. 1,777,474 and being actuated by chain connected to cross head 14 so that when the nails 108 and 108a are driven home they penetrate the sides of the box and are driven into the side edges of the center partition of the box, though my device is equally well adapted to any other type of box, the only provision being that the length of the nail must be selected for the thickness of material into which it is to be driven.

It will therefore be observed that the nail driving operation of the nail driver 91 consists first in pressing the nail chuck against the band, then penetrating the band with the nail, then starting the nail into the material of the box. After the nail has been started into the box, further movement of the crank arm 111 will cause the cross head 109 to engage shoulders 145 on the slide 95 and will pressthe slide forcibly toward the box. When this operation occurs, the movement of the slide toward the box causes the slide to pass over the upper end 140 of the slot 47 and shear off the band 42 at this point. However, it will be remembered that the nail had been started into the box so that shearing of the band at this point of the operation will not permit the band to be drawn away from the box, but the action of driving the nail will both out the band and drive the nail home, thus securing the band tightly to the box.

As hereinbefore described, the nail driver 90 will be held by reason of the shape of its cam tightly against the left-hand side of the box 7 during thedriving and shearing operation of the nail driver 91 so that in effect the nail driver 90 constitutes an anvil against which the nail driving operation of the driver 91 may react.

After the nail driving and shearing operation, further rotation of the shaft 18 will cause all of the cams to move back to their normal position, thus the cam 17 will retract the press-frame 8, the cam 133 will retract the nail driver 90, the cam 124 will retract the nail driver 91, while the cam 86 will hold the band feeding gear 83 in the position illustrated in Figure 15 ready for the next operation of the machine.

By referring particularly to Figure 3, it will be observed that the clutch 24 is of such construction that when the pedal 32 has been operated to throw the clutch into operation, the clutch will remain engaged. Thus upon the completion of a rotation of the shaft 18, the arm 37 is employed to press the yoke 35 to retract the clutch and throw the same out of engagement.

It should be remembered that the position of the arm 37 on the shaft 18 is such tha'. upon the completion of the rotation of the cams 17, 133, 24 and 86, the clutch is thrown out so that when the apparatus has operated through its cycle of operations, and has returned to the normal position, the brake is engaged to hold the machine in this position.

It will be further observed from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2 and 3 that the sprocket 23 is formed integrally with a pinion 145' which meshes with suitable gearing 146 to drive a jack shaft 147 upon one end of which is mounted a crank 148 which is connected by means of a connecting rod 149 to a rocker arm 150 which is in turn connected by a link 151 to a nail pan 152 so that during the entire operation of the motor 19 the nail pan 152 will be given an oscillatory motion to cause nails to be fed from the pan 152 into the nail feeding device 153.

It will also be observed that the nail pick or nail feeding apparatus 106 is connected through a link 154 to the press frame operating connecting rod 12 so that the nail pick device 106 will be actuated each time the press-frame is operated. Thus the feeding of nails through the tubes 105 to the nail drivers 90 and 91 will be insured upon'each operation of the machine through its cycle.

By referring to Figure 1, it will be observed that the reel 39 is preferably provided with a brake band 155 normally exerting a tension upon the reel to prevent too rapid feeding of the band material 42.

By referring to Figures 25 and 26, it will be observed that the arm 44 which supports the guide roller 43 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 49 so that a slight oscillatory movement of the arm 44 is provided, permitting the feed roller 43 to move up or down against the tension of a spring 156 to compensate for uneven braking operation by the brake 155, and thus insure a substantially constant tension upon the band material 42. If desired, an extra roller 157 may be provided upon the outer end of the arm 144 to assist in guiding the band material 43.

While the function and operation of each of the parts of my machine has been set forth hereinbefore, a ready understanding of the invention may be assisted by a review of the complete operation. Assuming the machine to be in its normal position, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, with the motor 19 in operation rotating the sprocket 23 and vibrating the nail pan 152, as hereinbefore described, a box 7 may be moved into the machine by sliding the same upon the rollers 5 of the table of the machine and against automatic disappearing stop as shown in Figure 2 and described in Parker Patent 1,777,474, and actuated by chain connected to cross head 14, so that the box is in the position illustrated in Figure 2, with the center of the box accurately aligned with the center portion of the side frames 2 and 3. It will be observed at this time that the box is provided with its lid 139, which has been secured at both ends to the ends of the box 7, bowed upwardly at the center. The operator of the machine now presses downwardly upon the pedal 32 to engage the clutch 24 which operation also releases the brake 31 as herelnbefore described. Thus power is supplied to the shaft 18 to start its rotation.

As the shaft 18 rotates, the band feeding device Will be operated by the gear 83 to feed the band upwardly into the form 68 until the band has completely traversed the form 68 and the free end 88 of the band is pressed against the lefthand side of the box 7. During this time the press-frame 8 has been drawn downwardly as shown in Figure 6 until it arrives in the position shown in Figure 7, pressing the center of the box downwardly.

By referring particularly to Figure 5, it will be observed that the press-frame 8 comprises a relatively wide piece of solid material having a slot 158 extending longitudinally therethrough through which the form 68 may pass as the clamp or press-frame 8 is drawn downwardly. Thus the movement of the press-frame 8 does not interfere with the band form 68 in any way. Moreover, in order to prevent the press-frame from injuring the contents of the box, the-amount of pressure exerted by it may be limited by the interpositioning of springs 159 between the crosshead 14 and connecting rods 12 and 13. 

